Senators Set to Grill Pentagon Nominee

By

Sara Murray

Jan. 30, 2013 7:03 p.m. ET

A Senate hearing Thursday will likely give clues to which has had the bigger effect on Chuck Hagel's battle to become defense secretary: His effort to court senators privately, or attacks on the airwaves to undermine his nomination.

Ahead of his Senate Armed Services Committee appearance, Mr. Hagel met with at least 50 senators and responded with a 112-page document to their policy questions . Many senators so far have declined to...